Filing-tray for card-indexes, &amp;c.



PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

A. G. VETTER FILING TRAY FOR CARD INDEXES, &0. APPLICATION FILED SEPT 111905 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J A M up fl rl\- M u S 2 .E 5 F c 5 Jo @fi mm E M 1 hN w L A. G. VETTER.FILING TRAY FOR CARD INDEXES, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. II 1906.

PATENTED FEB. 27', 1906.

2 SHEBTSSHEBT 2.

WITNESSES INVENTORI TTY' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST Gr. VETTER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO VETTER DESKWORKS, A CORPORATION OF NEW. YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

Application filed September 11, 1905. Serial No. 277,871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUeUsT G. VETTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York,have invented an Improved Filing-Tray for Card-Indexes, &c., of whichthefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to trays such as are used for card-indexes andsimilar purposes.

It often happens in the use of card-index systems that it is desirableto remove one or two of the trays from the cabinet and allow them toremain for some time upon the desk or table where they are being usedand referred to. In case of an interruption in the work for which thesetrays are being used in order to conceal-their contents and to protectthe trays from getting filled with dust, they have to be returned to thecase or cabinet where they belong and then withdrawn when the matter istaken up again.- In case of frequent interruptions in work of thischaracter much valuable time is lost and no little inconvenience isexperienced in returning the trays to the cabinet at the time of suchinterruption. Again, it often happens that it is desirable to keep atray out on a desk or table where it is being used for several hours orfor a day or two at a time. In such acase it is desirable to provide acover for the tray of such a character that the tray may be inserted inits compartment in the cabinet regardless of the position of the coveror inclosure therefor. It is also important that the contents of thetray be open when in use to inspection at the top and for a considerabledistance down each side, preferably about half of the distance down eachside, in order to facilitate the inspection of the cards or the contentsof the tray and to facilitate their ready removal.

The object of my present invention is to provide a card-index tray suchas may be used either individually or in connection with a large numberof the same kind, each arranged to be contained in a proper compartmentin a frame or case for such trays, the special purpose being to providea tray which may be so used and which may have its individual inclosureor covering and that, too, of such a character that whether anindividual tray is opened or closed it may be inserted in its propercompartment, and that each tray may be closed and locked individually,although removable from the case or cabinet.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown an individual tray in detailand a number of such trays also ranged in a compartment, such traysbeing so made in accordance with my present invention as to permit oftheir use in the way above described.

Figure 1 shows in isometric perspective a tray embodying my inventionand partly opened. Figs. 2 and 3 show sectional views of such a tray,taken along the plane indicated by dotted lines w y and as y of Fig. 1.In Fig. 2 the tray is shown as open, and in Fig.3 as closed. Fig. 4shows in sectional View, taken along the dotted line 9: y in Figs. 2 and3, the lower part of an end piece in one of my trays and shows also themethod of securing a bottom in such a tray when a bottom is deemeddesirable. Fig. 5 shows a sectional view taken along the dotted line x yin Figs. 2 and 3 of a portion of one of the end pieces of my tray andshows the method of closing the opening in the slot through which thecover is arranged to be inserted. Fig. 6 shows a detail to be explainedFig. 7 shows in perspective a four-tray cabinet containing three traysmade in accordance with my invention.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A is one of the trays having front and rearends a and 0, respectively, and right and left hand side pieces I) andb, respectively. The sides and ends of my tray are dovetailed togetherin the manner indicated in the drawings. The sides I) and I) extend alittle more than half-way up from the bottom of the tray. The end piecesa and 0 have grooves therein, as seen at 0, arranged, as seen, to formnearly a continuous groove in each end piece in which the cover works.

The cover of my tray comprises the end pieces i and k, between which areseen the intermediate sections 7'. The parts i, j, and 7c are flexiblysecured together by means of a canvas on the inside of the cover.

The parts j are arranged to slide in the grooves therefor in the endpieces a and 0, While in these same grooves tenons formed on the endpieces i and k are also arranged to slide. The space for the cardsproper is contained within the side pieces g and e, which enter. and aresecured in suitable grooves therefor in the end pieces a and 0. Suitablebottom pieces f and f are also secured in grooves therefor in the endpieces a and c in IIO the manner indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. The

bottom piece f is cut away on the upper surface thereof toward thecenter of the tray to make provision for the guide f 2 and leave roomfor the usual slide or runner to operate thereon, which is secured onthe lower edge of the follower-block t, the end of which only is seen inFig. 1, and this follower-block may have any desired one of thewell-known looking mechanisms for securing it upon the track f 2 in anydesired position longitudinally of the tray A. These elements justreferred to constitute no part of my present invention and bein alreadyso well known in the art as to call or no further description herein arenot shown in detail.

Upon the bottom pieces f and f the usual tab or septum cards p aresupported, and between them are seen the usual memorandum cards s. Allof these cards have a downward extension thereon and near the center ofthe lower edge, through which there is a suitable openin for the usualretaining-rod u, removab e from the tray in the usual way by means ofthe head it. (Seen in Fig. 1.)

The spacebetween the right-hand side I) of the tray and thecard-inclosing element 6 is covered by means of the cap-piece d. The endpiece 1' of the cover may bear any suitable look, as m, arranged tocooperate with the catch-piece n on the cap-piece d. The front of thetray may have the usual label-bearing handle 1".

In the construction of my tray it is very important that the entireframework of the tray shall be put together before the insertion of thecover, and for this reason it becomes necessary to form an opening intothe grooves in the end pieces in which the cover works. For the properworking of the cover it is desirable that the grooves should be closedin order that the cover may not accidentally work out of the grooves.opening is seen in Figs. 2 and 3 in the rear end 0 of the tray, and itis shown as closed by means of the piece 0 held in position by means ofa screw. (Shown also in section in Fig. 5.)

When found desirable, a bottom h may be inserted in a suitable rabbetit, formed therefor, as seen in the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 7, B represents a fourtray cabinet, such as may beused in connection with my trays. In this cabinet there are seen threetrays A, A, and A having the label-bearing handles 1", r, and 1,respectively, and the operating-heads u, u", and of, respectively, forthe retaining-rods for the cards. At O is seen a lock for looking allthe trays in the cabinet, which may be built after any one of thewell-known constructions when such a lock is desired. At w w are seensuitable corner-pieces conformed to fit the front pieces of the trays,so as to present a finished appearance.

As seen in Fig. 6, the side 1; is cut away to 65 permit the user toengage with the finger the Such an groove therefor in the end piece 4;of the cover when such cover is open.

By the use of trays constructed in accordance with my present inventionit will at once be seen that any one or more trays may be removed fromthe cabinet and treated as an individual tray, and the contents thereofmay be concealed from view and protected from dust by the closing of thecover and that whether the covers are opened or closed the trays arereadily insertible in the spaces therefor in the cabinet, and, whendesired, any individual tray may have its cover closed and locked toprotect its contents from inspection or observation, although removablefrom the cabinet.

What I claim is 1. A filing-tray for card-indexes, &c., having a bottomand suitable side and end pieces arranged to su port the cards andexpose them on one 0 their edges and a cover for such tray adapted inall of its positions relatively to such tray to be contained within thespace between such end pieces and inclosed by lines connecting the sameat any and all corresponding points on their edge peripheries.

2. A filing-tray for card-indexes, &c., having a front and arear end forsuch tray extending beyond the cards on all four of their edges, groovesin such front and rear ends and a flexible cover shorter than thestraightened-out length of such grooves and arranged to work therein andadapted when open to expose the cards on one edge thereof.

3. A filing-tray for card-indexes, &c.,having a bottom and suitable sideand end pieces arranged to support the cards and expose them on one oftheir edges and part way down on one of their adjacent sides and a coverfor such tray adapted in all of its positions relatively to such tray tobe contained within the space between such end pieces and inclosed bylines connecting the same at any and all corresponding points on theiredge periph-- erles.

4.. A filing-tray for card-indexes, &c., having a bottom and suitableside and end pieces arranged to su port the cards and expose them on oneof t ieir edges and part way down on two adjacent sides and a cover forsuch tray adapted in all of its positions relatively to such tray to becontained Within the s ace between such end pieces and inclosed by inesconnecting the same at any and all correspondin points on their edgeperipheries.

5. A filing-tray for card-indexes,&c., having afront and a rear end forsuch tray extending beyond the cards on all four of their edges, groovesin such front and rear ends and aflexible cover shorter than thestraightened-out length of such grooves and arranged to work therein andadapted when open to expose the cards on one edge thereof and a part ofan adjacent side.

E 6. A filing-tray for card-indexes, &c., having a front and a rear endfor such tray extending beyond the cards on all four of their edges,grooves in such front and rear ends and aflexible cover shorter than thestraightened-out length of such grooves and arranged to Work therein andadapted when open to expose the cards on one edge thereof and a part oftwo adjacent sides.

7. In a filing-tray for card-indexes, &c., adapted to support the cardsand expose them on one edge and a part of an adjacent edge, a front anda rear end for such tray extending beyond the cards on all four of theiredges, grooves in such front and rear ends and aflexible cover shorterthan the straightenedout length of such groove and arranged to Worktherein, that portion of such grooves in the end pieces arranged toreceive the cover when 20 open concealed between the extreme outsides ofthe box and internal partitions for supporting and retaining the cards.

8. In a filing-tray for card-indexes, &c., adapted to receive andsupport the cards and expose them on one edge and a part of two adjacentedges, a front and rear end for such tray extending beyond the cards onall four of their edges, grooves in such front and rear ends and aflexible cover shorter than the straightened out length of such grooveand arranged to work therein, that portion of such grooves in the endpieces arranged to receive the cover when open concealed between theextreme outsides of the box and internal partitions for supporting andretaining the cards.

AUGUST G. VETTER. Witnesses:

ALBERT C. BELL, CLARA M. SIENER.

